The dispositions of the battalion were—"A" and "C" Companies in Athies, "B" and "D" in Cam Valley. After being at first in the railway cutting, Battalion Headquarters moved on the evening of August 1st to the railway embankment, handing over their old Headquarters to the Munsters, and taking over from the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion. The tour was very quiet, the only incident being some heavy bursts carried out from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on August 6th by our "heavies" on the enemy front line.
The same day a slight readjustment of the line took place between ourselves, the Munsters, and the 8th K.L.R. 2nd-Lieutenant Paterson and Rev. S. J. Hughes joined while we were here, and the Medical Officer was temporarily relieved by Lieutenant Gherman, M.O.R.C., U.S.A.
On August 8th we were relieved by the 2/7th K.L.R., and then proceeded to relieve the 8th K.L.R. in the front line. The operation was finally completed by 1.10 a.m. "D" and "C" Companies held the front line, "A" and "B" were in support.
The tour in the front line was hardly more eventful than when in support. The Corps Commander visited us on two occasions; the battalion on our right was unsuccessfully raided; "A" Company took a prisoner after a patrol encounter; and on August 13th sixteen officers and thirty-two other ranks of the American Army were attached for instruction.
There is no doubt that this was the most "cushy" sector the battalion ever occupied. The weather was fine and warm, the country pleasant, and but for a little artillery and one or two active trench mortars the enemy harmless. On August 15th we were relieved by the 2/7th K.L.R., with the exception of "D" Company, and moved back into reserve at Victory Camp. Here we spent a quiet two days cleaning and training, being joined by "D" Company on August 17th. On August 18th we moved to Ste. Catherine Camp at Anzin, where 2nd-Lieutenant D. J. Williams reported for duty.
CHAPTER VIII
BATTLE OF CAMBRAI
The move from the line to Ste. Catherine Camp was the beginning of a series of movements, some leisurely, some hasty, which eventually brought the battalion into position to take its part in the Battle of Bapaume and the second Battle of Cambrai. The breaking of the famous "Hindenburg Line," on which the enemy had lavished such skill and pains, and on which it was evident he placed such firm reliance, finally altered the method of warfare from the concentrated attack on an organized trench system to the battle of movement in unfortified areas.
But before briefly describing the systems of the Hindenburg Line, and the general trend of the battle, the preceding movements of our battalion must be sketched.